Yesterday a 17 year old was charged with murder.
It is claimed he is autistic.
So once again for those who don’t think:
Autism is not a mental illness or disease.
Autistic people are rarely violent.
Autistic people are far more likely to be victims of violence
Today an autistic person will give up.
No one will notice.
No one will care.
Their response is always “..if only they reached out” or “lessons will be learnt”.
Why?
I read a thread about autism & ADHD being fashionable.
Claims made about “special” treatment in the workplace and reality of even getting an interview ignore reality.
Many employed autistic people complain of workplace bullying & zero adjustments
A reminder that autism, ADHD and OCD are binary. You either are or you are not
We are NOT all a little autistic, have a little OCD or ADHD.
Thank you for reading
So the government wants everyone in work.
My autistic loved one would love a job, but despite their fantastic qualifications no employer wants to give them a chance.
So if you want disabled people to work focus on employers first!
Some believe autism is fashionable because autistic people get “special” treatment
Yep, lots of “specials”
Special unemployment.
Special desk with the reaper.
Special social exclusion.
Special discrimination.
Special no reasonable adjustments
Many years ago DLA were life time awards. There was an understanding that some conditions like autism are life long.
Then PIP was introduced and the magical assumption that conditions some how diminish or disappear.
Trouble is some conditions, like autism, are for life!
Here is an alternative viewpoint on disability that is often ignored.
Have you ever thought how much work a disabled person does just to exist, to continue living?
Many people appear to support assisted-dying.
But they don’t appear to support assisted-living for disabled, chronically ill, mentally ill and vulnerable people.
Why is that?
Dear folks,
Some people say:
“We all get a little depressed”
“We are all little autistic”
“We all have a little anxiety”
What do these statements tell you about the person saying them?
Some therapy is harmful to autistic people.
Some therapy just won’t work with autistic people.
6 sessions & you are done model won’t work with autistic people.
Many years ago DLA was replaced with PIP.
DLA was awarded for a lifetime for many people.
Some conditions are for life.
Autism & ADHD are two such conditions.
Both are very dynamic and a good day can be followed by a day in the pit of despair.
Ask if the changes get this?
I recall a DWP assessor not accepting a diagnosis letter as proof of a diagnosis.
Imagine a non medical assessor questioning a diagnosis made by a Professor of Psychiatry?
Expect more of this
An autistic relative has been hospitalised a few times for defending vulnerable people from bullies.
Most autistic people have a strong social conscience.
Believe in better
This morning I read a long thread about whether autism is a disability.
Even in the autism community there is so much ignorance.
Autism is a disability. The choice of whether you class it a disability is yours.
Stop undermining others with “it is not a disability“
Autism is one of those invisible disabilities.
People accuse autistic people of fakery & worse things.
They push & push until 💥Boom! 💥
Then it’s “what’s wrong with you?”, “grow up”, “it can’t be anything I’ve said” ..
Do they ever listen?
I just read a thread where someone had a pop at less autistic people for taking support away from “severe” autistic like his brother.
I do wonder if some people understand how little services there actually are for all autistic people?
At my local
#autism
board several years ago a group of social workers and psychologists suggested
#autistic
people should wear badges to make it easier for everybody.
They didn’t understand my concerns or opposition.
Do you understand?
I just read a report that said 78% of disabled people do not disclose their disabilities at work.
Most cite bullying and fear of job loss.
Of the Chancellor is to get more disabled people into work, he really needs to talk to employers!
#AutismAcceptanceWeek
Many people forget that 6 sessions of mental health support doesn’t work for autistic people.
It may take 6 sessions to build up sufficient trust.
You can’t make this up.
PiP reform and WCA abolished under new plans. Disabled people will be forced to work.
But the help to assist disabled people into work is to be abolished!
What are disabled people supposed to do- die?
Please understand this.
Some people need 6 sessions to even trust the person supporting them.
Even some suicidal people only get 6 sessions.
Some people get no access.
@draevans
My wife has been diagnosed with severe depression, and was offered CBT, she attended for 6 weeks, after which she was beginning to feel a bit more positive.
When she asked what happens now, they said 'that's it, we only do 6 week sessions'.
She's now back to square one!
Apparently Asperger no longer exists according to some people.
If an autistic person still wishes to use Asperger it is valid.
If their diagnosis is Asperger it is valid.
If the DWP accepts it Asperger it is valid.
Attacking someone for using it is rude & shows ignorance
“Well I completely reject that… they are just wrong”
@Jeremy_Hunt
responds to charity
@SCOPE
calling the government's welfare reforms an assault on disabled people, arguing one of the best ways to address mental illness is “to help them get back into the world of work”
#Peston
Celebrities talk about assisted dying.
Politicians talk about assisted dying.
No one ever talks about assisted living.
Disabled and chronically ill people are blamed for everything that is broken.
No one ever talks about their needs and assisted living.
Why?
Let’s talk about PIP vouchers.
I’d like the “experts” who think it is great, to explain to me how I am supposed to pay for therapy for my loved with a voucher?
We have had the same lady for years. She keeps L1 grounded and hence safe.
Vouchers won’t work with autism!
Some say an autism “golden ticket” is a privilege. Reality it gets you
Lifetime of loneliness
Lifetime of no relationships
Little opportunity for meaningful work
Early death
So understand it is only golden in their eyes.
It is interesting how many people really actually DO NOT understand how invisible disabilities work.
Depression, mental illness and chronic anxiety are something you cannot easily work through.
A good day for some is having another day!
The ADHD “golden ticket” gets you:
Broken relationships
Broken friendships
Increased likelihood of homelessness
Increased likelihood of the sack
Increased likelihood of jail
Increased likelihood of an earth death
A life time of confusion, doubt, impulsivity and anguish.
My autistic loved one went to mainstream school
There were days when they threw up from stress & anxiety.
There were days when they collapsed after school
There were days when anxiety came close to taking them from us
Understand my opposition to this
PIP is not the issue - the assessment process is.
Demeaning & nasty for many. Some conditions are life long.
People don’t need to be asked if an autism diagnosis is still relevant
(1/3) PIP was created by the Tories but isn’t working for disabled people (or the taxpayer).
@DWPgovuk
too often fails to get decisions right first time, leading to lengthy delays, reassessments and a stressful appeals process.
I was just asked to explain autism:
“Autism is simply a different way of thinking and communicating.
Autism can be disabling because of other people and their assumptions”.
Any opinions?
A living wage is £22,000 pa
Disabled people can get PIP - it is about £400 pcm at the highest rate.
So tell me again why being disabled is a lifestyle choice?
Ask how many ADHD & autistic people actually disclose their disabilities?
Ask how many are actually in meaningful work?
Ask how the Equality Act is enforced?
Some believe autism is fashionable because autistic people get “special” treatment
Yep, lots of “specials”
Special unemployment.
Special discussions with the reaper.
Special social exclusion.
Special discrimination.
Special no reasonable adjustments
Many people underestimate the anxiety simple GP trips cause for autistic people.
The receptionist is a source of confrontation.
The GP is a source of anxiety from not listening
The nurse is a source of anxiety caused by perceived pain
So the government wants everyone in work.
My autistic loved one would love a job, but despite their fantastic qualifications no employer wants to give them a chance.
So if you want disabled people to work focus on employers first!
Some people have been saying banning postal votes is the right thing to do.
I wonder who’d be most affected by that?
Oh, yes disabled people, people with chronic illnesses and people otherwise house bound.
It appears vulnerable people don’t matter.
Just an observation about autism diagnosis.
Most parents, autistic people and siblings can spit other autistic people.
So why does it take bl@
@dy
4 years to diagnose?
Celebrities talk about assisted dying.
Politicians talk about assisted dying.
No one ever talks about assisted living.
Disabled and chronically ill people are blamed for everything that is broken.
No one ever talks about their needs and assisted living.
Why?
Remember people on benefits have never started a run on a bank, triggered a recession or a depression.
People on benefits usually die earlier, live in poverty and have less life chances.
Ask why greed is never targeted?
The reporting that almost feels expected but is still gutting every time it emerges.
When violence occurs, especially VAWG, I always hold a bit of fear as an autistic person that there will be a moment that an autism diagnosis is used as context in explaining the why.
Once again for the journalists, economists and other professionals out there.
Autism & ADHD are not a psychiatric conditions.
Autism & ADHD are
#NOT
mental illnesses
Autism & ADHD are life long.
Autism & ADHD are not a disease.
Can they please explain what this actually means?
Do they expect some one with a chronic illness, profound anxiety, a serious mental illness, a terminal diagnosis to apply for jobs?
Which employers do they think will employ them?
Today an autistic person will be sectioned because of mental health issues caused by masking, clinicians not listening earlier, societal expectations etc.
Think about the consequences of this campaign.
In my opinion it is wholly irresponsible.
I believe every autistic child should get an EHCP/SEN statement automatically.
This is not just about current needs but future needs. An autistic child can’t wait 2 years for the LA to delay, delay, delay.
Some of those needs may be deadly if left unsupported.
Fashionable?
For goodness sake. Autism & ADHD are complex & disabling for many
These sort of irresponsible statements undermine the work of years of advocacy.
Most workplaces make zero reasonable adjustments without OT.
Try get a change of chair for a physical disability!
@WorkPsychol
Young adults are self diagnosing based on TikTok videos. Workplaces affirm it without a medical diagnosis and they get special treatment such as laptops and altered working hours. It’s fashionable to have a neurodivergent label, which harms those who genuinely have autism/ADHD
So many false assumptions.
For someone to have a job they have to be offered one.
Ask why many disabled people are unemployed?
(Hint - ask employers about prejudice)
Many autistic people would love a job, any job that meets their needs.
Trouble is many employers don’t seem to like employing autistic people.
Talk to the employers instead of picking v on disabled people
A thought about reasonable adjustments.
Would a child be sanctioned for not wearing full school uniform if they broke a leg?
So if a broken leg means accommodations, they same logic should apply to autistic and ADHD students.
You may have seen these adverts.
They never ask why children hate school.
They never ask about SEND, autism, ADHD…
They never ask about bullying.
They never ask about sensory overload.
They never ask about silly and petty rules.
They never ask about sanctions.
Dear politicians,
The SEN crisis is not caused by children.
The SEN crisis is not caused by over diagnosis of autism or ADHD.
The SEN crisis is caused by you & you alone.
Your ignorance, intolerance, indifference and pushing false narratives is harmful.
Thank you